System, medical item including RFID chip, data collection engine, server and method for capturing medical data

ABSTRACT

A system includes a plurality of RFID chips affixed to medical items, a data collection engine device, and a server device. The data collection engine wirelessly transmits power to a first one of the RFID chips and receives first medical data from the first RFID chip while the first RFID chip is activated by the power receiver. The data collection engine generates a first message indicative of the first medical data to be sent to the server device. The server device can determine aspects of the medical items such as position and consumption based upon the first medical data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/113,356 filed on Feb. 6, 2015.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical filed generally relates to a system including a data collection engine, a plurality of medical items including radio-frequency identification chips, and a server.

BACKGROUND

Medical facilities utilize or consume medical devices and other consumable items in the course of providing patient care. Examples include catheters, medication, surgical implants, sterile wrappings, sterile gowns, sterile gloves, surgical operation sponges, stethoscopes, endotracheal tubes, etc. Some medical items are used only one time during a procedure, while others which may be used repeatedly after proper sterile procedures, etc. All of these types of medical items will be referred to herein sometimes as medical consumable items or medical items for the sake of brevity. Medical facilities usually have procedures for these types of medical items.

SUMMARY

Medical consumable items frequently need to be charged to the patient or a third party payor. Nonetheless, often a medical consumable item may be used, but not billed. Therefore, a system that can allow passive capture of information regarding medical consumable items is needed to ensure proper charging.

Data about medical consumable item use is a key input into activity based costing via which medical facilities are able to understand the cost and cost drivers for services they render. Therefore, a system that can allow passive capture of information regarding medical consumable items is needed for activity based costing.

A Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) chip can transmit information to a reader in response to an interrogation signal or polling request from the reader. The RFID chip can be incorporated in a tag (RFID tag) which is placed on a medical consumable item so that information can be passively captured. An RFID tag can be an active-type with its own power source, or a passive-type or battery-assisted passive type with no or limited power source. Both the passive-type and battery-assisted passive type will be referred to here as passive-type for sake of brevity. Placing an active-type RFID tag on some medical consumable items may not be feasible do to financial considerations, weight, etc. On the other hand, placing a passive-type RFID tag on medical consumable items may be more feasible; however, a power source will be needed to passively obtain information. Therefore, a device that can provide power to the RFID tag on the medical consumable item as well as obtain the information from the RFID tag would be beneficial for activity based costing and to ensure proper charging.

During medical procedures such as surgery, it is very important to avoid errors such as retaining the medical consumable item in the patient after conclusion, performing surgery on the wrong section of the body, performing the wrong surgical procedure or even performing surgery on the wrong patient. Such errors are commonly referred to as “surgical never events”. In order to avoid surgical never events, the position of a medical consumable item, a patient with respect to the medical consumable item, as well as the medical consumable items consumed are desirable information.

In view of the above problems, as well as other concerns, the present disclosure concerns a system for capturing medical data from a medical consumable item which includes an RFID chip.

According to various embodiments, the system includes a data collection engine (DCE), a plurality of RFID chips associated with a plurality of medical consumable items, and a server device.

The DCE includes a power transmission subsystem, a transceiver, a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver, and a memory including instructions for configuring the controller. The power transmission subsystem includes a power source and an antenna arranged to wirelessly transmit power to a passive-type RFID chip. The transceiver can communicate with a server device via a connection to a network such as a LAN, the Internet, or cellular network and also wirelessly communicate with RFID chips. The controller is configured to generate messages to be sent by the transceiver to the server device. The DCE can also communicate with a client device such as a smartphone.

The RFID chips can be incorporated in tags (RFID tags) which are placed on the medical consumable items so that information can be passively captured. The RFID tags can be associated with following exemplary medical consumable items: an identification badge; a patient wrist band; a trash receptacle, spine instrumentation that measures information about the stress/force/moment at native human/implant interfaces; medical catheters; sponges to assist with sponge count at end of an operation and to ensure that no sponge is left in the patient, hospital beds, surgical drain tip, etc.

The RFID chip includes an antenna for communicating with the DCE, other RFID chips and/or a client device such as a smartphone. If the RFID chip is passive-type, the antenna wirelessly receives power from, for example, the DCE, another RFID chip or the client device. The RFID chip further includes a controller configured by a memory, a microcontroller or dedicated logic for generating messages to be transmitted and a sensor group.

The server device includes a transceiver, a controller coupled to the transceiver, and memory portions including instructions for configuring the controller and providing one or more databases related to the medical consumable items. The transceiver can communicate with the DCE via a connection to the network.

The system can be deployed for a single tenant (enterprise or private cloud deployment) and/or shared across multiple facilities (multi-tenant cloud deployment).

In the system according to a first embodiment, RFID chips send medical data to a DCE, the DCE transmits messages indicative of the medical data to the server device, and the server device stores the medical data in one or more databases. A client device can request data retrieval of certain medical data. Moreover, a plurality of events can be determined on the RFID chip level.

According to a first aspect of the first embodiment, a first RFID chip, which is a passive-type RFID chip, is activated by power received from the power transmission subsystem of the DCE or of another RFID chip. While activated by the received power, the first RFID chip transmits first medical data indicative of a first event which is received by the transceiver of the DCE. The controller of the DCE is configured to generate a first message indicative of the first medical data to be sent by the transceiver to the server device via a network connection. The first event can be that another RFID chip is more or less than a predetermined distance from the first RFID chip.

According to a second aspect, the transceiver of the DCE can receive identification data from the first RFID chip while the first RFID chip is activated by the received power. The controller of the DCE can be configured to store the identification data in the memory to be associated with the first RFID chip and to generate the first message to include the identification data.

According to a third aspect, the transceiver of the DCE is further configured to receive second medical data from a second RFID chip which is an active-type RFID chip having its own power source. The controller of the DCE is further configured to generate a second message indicative of the second medical data to be sent by the transceiver to the server device via the network connection.

According to a fourth aspect, the second RFID chip can receive third medical data from a third RFID chip when the third RFID chip is more or less than a predetermined distance from the second RFID chip. The second medical data received by the transceiver of the DCE according to the third aspect can further include the third medical data associated with both the second and third RFID chips.

According to a fifth aspect, the power transmission subsystem is further arranged to transmit power to a second passive-type RFID chip for activating the second RFID chip. The transceiver of the DCE of the first aspect receives second medical data from the second passive-type RFID chip indicative of a second event when a third RFID chip is more or less than a predetermined distance from the second passive-type RFID chip while the second passive-type RFID chip is activated by the power. The controller of the DCE is configured to generate a message indicative of the second medical data to be sent by the transceiver to the server via the network connection.

According to a sixth aspect, the transceiver of the DCE of the first aspect receives second medical data from a second RFID chip indicative of a second event when a third RFID chip is more than a predetermined distance from the second RFID chip, the second RFID chip associated with one of packaging for a medical consumable item and the medical consumable item, the third RFID chip associated with the other one of the packaging for a medical consumable item and the medical consumable item. The transceiver receives third medical data from the second RFID chip indicative of a third event when a fourth RFID chip associated with a trash receptacle is less than a predetermined distance from the second RFID chip. The controller of the DCE is further configured to generate a second message indicative of the second event and a third message indicative of the third event to be sent by the transceiver to the server device via the network connection.

According to a seventh aspect, the transceiver of the DCE of the first aspect receives second medical data indicative of a second event from a second RFID chip or the first RFID chip when the first RFID chip is less than a predetermined distance from the second RFID chip, the second RFID chip associated with an identification item, the first RFID chip associated with a medical consumable item. The second medical data includes information representative of identification data for the second RFID chip, and a time duration for which the second RFID chip is less than the predetermined distance from the first RFID chip. The controller of the DCE is further configured to generate one or more second messages indicative of the second event to be sent by the transceiver to the server device via the network connection.

According to an eight aspect, the transceiver of the DCE of the first aspect receives second medical data indicative of a second event from a second RFID chip or the first RFID chip when the first RFID chip is less than a predetermined distance from the second RFID chip, the second RFID chip associated with an identification item for a medical professional, the first RFID chip associated with a medical consumable item. The transceiver receives third medical data indicative of a third event from the first RFID chip or a third RFID chip associated with an identification item for a patient when the first RFID chip is less than a predetermined distance from the third RFID chip. The second and third medical data includes information representative of identification data for the second and third RFID chips and a time duration for which the first and second RFID chips are less than the predetermined distance from each other. The controller is further configured to generate one or more second messages indicative of the second and third events to be sent by the transceiver to the server device via the network connection.

According to a ninth aspect, the transceiver of the eighth aspect receives fourth medical data indicative of a fourth event from a fourth RFID chip associated with a trash receptacle when the medical consumable item is disposed in the trash receptacle. The controller is further configured to generate one or more third messages indicative of the fourth event to be sent by the transceiver to the server device via the network connection.

According to a tenth aspect, the first RFID chip of the first aspect is associated with a trash receptacle, and the transceiver receives the first medical data indicative of the first medical event when a second RFID chip associated with a medical consumable item is disposed in the trash receptacle.

According to an eleventh aspect, the first RFID chip of the first aspect is associated with a medical consumable item, and the first medical data includes identification information of the first RFID chip, and location data.

According to a twelfth aspect, the first RFID chip of the first aspect is associated with an identification for a medical professional or a patient, and the first medical data includes identification information of the first RFID chip, location data and a time duration in which the identification has been in a particular location.

According to a thirteenth aspect, the transceiver of the first aspect is further configured to receive a data storage request from a client device, the data storage request including data associated with a second RFID chip coupled to the client device, and the controller is further configured to generate another message including the data storage request to be sent to the server device.

According to a fourteenth aspect, the transceiver of the server device is configured to receive the message from the DCE, wherein the message from the DCE includes at least an identification associated with the first RFID chip. The transceiver is further configured to receive an information request from a client device and to send an information reply including usage parameters associated with the first RFID chip to the client device. The server device includes one or more memory sources operatively coupled to the controller. The memory sources include a database and instructions for configuring the controller. The instructions configure the controller to: determine data in the database that is associated with the identification for the first RFID chip in the information request; generate the information reply including the usage parameters associated with the first RFID chip based upon the determined data; and store data in the message from the DCE in the database to be associated with the identification of the first RFID chip.

According to a fifteenth aspect, the first RFID chip is associated with a medical consumable item, and the usage parameters associated with the first RFID chip include an identification of a medical professional that used the medical consumable item, and an identification of a patient for whom the medical consumable item was used.

According to sixteenth aspect, the first RFID chip is associated with an identification of a medical professional, and the usage parameters associated with the first RFID chip include a time duration for which the medical professional was in a certain location.

According to a seventeenth aspect, the DCE of the first aspect is configured to control the transceiver to wirelessly transmit power to the first RFID chip at a predetermined interval so that the first medical data is received at the predetermined interval. Particularly, the DCE can poll a plurality of RFID chips at a specified interval to take inventory.

According to an eighteenth aspect, the first RFID chip includes an antenna for wirelessly receiving the power from the transceiver of the DCE of the first aspect and communicating with a second RFID chip, and control logic for generating the medical data indicative of the first event, wherein the medical data includes a duration for which the first RFID chip communicated with the second RFID chip.

According to a nineteenth aspect, the server device includes a transceiver configured to receive a plurality of messages from the DCE of the first aspect, a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver; and one or more memory sources operatively coupled to the controller, the one or more memory sources including instructions for configuring the controller to determine based upon medical events included in the plurality of messages whether a medical consumable item associated with the first RFID chip has been consumed.

In the system according to a second embodiment, RFID chips send medical data to a DCE, the DCE transmits messages indicative of the medical data to the server device, and the server device stores the medical data in a database. The server device and/or the DCE and/or another entity can determine whether events such as a never event, a consumption event, and/or a charging event (all referred to here as the event) has occurred based upon the medical data received from the RFID chips, patient data stored in the database, and/or medical professional data stored in the database. A client device can request data retrieval of certain medical data.

The server and/or the DCE can be configured to determine whether the event has occurred based upon at least the parameters in the medical data obtained from the RFID chips such as proximity to another RFID chip, duration of the proximity and orientation values. For example, if a packaging of a medical consumable item is moved from being in proximity with the medical consumable item that was in the packaging to being in close proximity to an RFID chip associated with a trash receptacle, and the close proximity between the trash receptacle and the medical consumables packaging was more than a predetermined time duration such as, for example, 15 minutes, the system can conclude that there is a high probability that the medical consumable item was consumed. Further, this probability may be further boosted, if the medical consumable item is then determined to be in close proximity with a surgeon, the patient's hospital bed, the operating room table, which the patient is on during surgery, or the patient's wrist band.

According to a first aspect of the second embodiment, a server device receives messages from a plurality of first RFID chips affixed to a medical item and a second RFID chip associated with a patient. The first RFID chip can be a passive-type RFID chip activated by power received from the DCE or an active-type RFID chip. The second RFID chip can be a tag on a patient wristband. The server device includes a transceiver configured to receive the messages. The messages include a position signature of the plurality of first RFID chips affixed to the medical item and a patient identification of the second RFID chip associated with the patient. The server device includes a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver and one or more memory sources operatively coupled to the controller.

The one or more memory sources storing a patient database including a plurality of patient identifications associated with a plurality of patients, and patient attributes for each of the plurality of patient identifications.

The one or more memory sources further include instructions for configuring the controller to determine based upon the position signature, a present patient orientation of the patient and to determine if the present patient orientation corresponds with one or more of the patient attributes associated with the patient in the patient database.

According to a second aspect of the server device, the patient attributes includes a surgical procedure scheduled for the patient; and the controller is further configured to determine if the present patient orientation of the patient corresponds with the surgical procedure scheduled.

According to a third aspect of the server device, the one or more memory sources store a medical professional database including medical professional identifications associated with medical professionals, and attributes related to each of the medical professional identifications, and the plurality of messages further include an indication that a third RFID chip associated with one of the medical professionals is less than a predetermined distance from the second RFID chip associated with the one patient.

According to a fourth aspect of the server device, the medical item is a patient operating table, wherein the position signature includes: one or more pressure values associated with a portion of the patient operating table; a first distance between first and second RFID chips of the plurality of first RFID chips, the first RFID chip associated with a head portion of the patient operating table and the second RFID chip associated with a center portion of the patient operating table; and a second distance between a third RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips and the second RFID chip, the third RFID chip associated with a foot portion of the patient operating table. The controller is further configured to determine an orientation of the patient operating table based upon the one or more pressure values and the first and second distances.

According to a fifth aspect, the medical item is a patient operating table and a headrest; the position signature includes: a first distance between first and second RFID chips of the plurality of first RFID chips, the first RFID chip associated with the headrest and the second RFID chip associated with a first edge portion of the patient operating table; and a second distance between the first RFID chip and a third RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, the third RFID chip associated with a second edge portion of the patient operating table, and the controller is further configured to determine an orientation of the headrest and the operating table based upon the first and second distances.

According to a sixth aspect, the medical item is a headrest and a patient operating table; the position signature includes: a spatial orientation of first and second RFID chips associated with portions of a head clamp of the headrest; and first and second pressure values detected by a third and fourth RFID chips associated with portions of an operating table, and the controller is further configured to determine the patient orientation based upon the first and second pressure values and the spatial orientation.

According to a seventh aspect, the plurality of messages further include: a first spatial orientation of a third RFID chip associated with an endotracheal tube in the patient; a pressure of an air-filled cuff in the endotracheal tube; a temperature associated with the patient; a second spatial orientation value of a fourth RFID chip associated with an eyelid occlusive dressing; and the controller is further configured to determine the patient orientation based upon the first and second spatial orientation values.

According to an eight aspect, the medical item is a headrest. The position signature includes: an angle of displacement from a baseline orientation of a first RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, a first distance between the first RFID chip and a second RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, and a second distance between the first RFID chip and a third RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips. The RFID chip is affixed to a base portion of the head rest. The second RFID chip is associated with a first pin portion of the headrest. The third RFID chip is associated with a second pin portion of the headrest. The controller is further configured to determine an orientation of the headrest on the operating table based upon the angle of displacement and the first and second distances.

According to a ninth aspect, the server device receives the one or more messages from a DCE via a connection to a network, the DCE includes: a power transmission subsystem including a power source and an antenna arranged to wirelessly transmit power from the power source to one or more of the plurality of first RFID chips; a transceiver configured to receive first medical data from one or more of the plurality of first RFID chips and the patient identification of the second RFID chip associated with the patient, the medical data including the position signature of the plurality of first RFID chips; a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver; and one or more memory sources operatively coupled to the controller, the one or more memory sources including instructions for configuring the controller to generate a first message indicative of the first medical data to be sent by the transceiver to the server via a network connection.

It should be noted that all or some of the aspects of the first and second embodiments can be combined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements, together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification and serve to further illustrate various exemplary embodiments and explain various principles and advantages in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary operating environment in which a Data Collection Engine (DCE) receives medical data from RFID chips associated with medical consumable items and transmits the medical data to a server via a connection to a network according to exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary portions of the DCE according to exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram illustrating exemplary portions of a passive-type RFID chip associated with a medical item according to exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 3B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary portions of an active-type RFID chip associated with a medical item according to exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 4A-4B illustrate an exemplary operating environment in which one or more DCEs receive medical data from RFID chips associated with medical consumables, medical professionals and a patient according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary operating environment in which a smartphone acts as a DCE to receive medical data from RFID chips associated with medical consumable items, medical professionals and a patient according to a modification to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6-8 are flow diagrams illustrating exemplary operations of the DCE and RFID chips associated with medical consumable items, medical professionals and a patient according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 9A-9G illustrate an exemplary operating environment in which one or more DCEs receive medical data from RFID chips associated with medical consumables, medical professionals and a patient according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating exemplary operations of the RFID chips in medical consumable items and the DCE according to the exemplary operating environment shown in FIGS. 9A-9G.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating exemplary portions of a server device according to various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 12A is a perspective view of an operating table including a plurality of RFID chips according to an exemplary second embodiment.

FIG. 12B is a diagram illustrating a top view of the operating table of FIG. 12A.

FIG. 13A is a perspective view of a donut headrest including a plurality of RFID chips according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 13B is a schematic view of a patient's head positioned within the donut headrest of FIG. 13A.

FIG. 13C is a diagram illustrating a top view of the operating table including the donut headrest according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a patient positioned on her left shoulder on the operating table.

FIG. 14B is a block diagram illustrating the position signatures detected and communicated by the RFID chips on the donut headrest and the operating table according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating a skull clamp headrest including a plurality of RFID chips according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15B is a diagram illustrating the skull clamp portion of the Mayfield heardrest according to the second embodiment.

FIGS. 15C-15F are diagrams illustrating various orientations of a patient's head positioned in the skull clamp and the detected position signatures.

FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating an endotracheal tube including a plurality of RFID chips according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16B is a view of the endotracheal tube positioning within a patient.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a patient on an operating table including the skull clamp headrest of FIG. 15A and the endotracheal tube of FIG. 16A.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an adhesive eyelid occlusive dressing including an RFID chip according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a horse-shoe headrest including a plurality of RFID chips according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In overview, the present disclosure concerns a Data Collection Engine (DCE), RFID chips for medical items and for identification tags of medical professionals and patients, and a server device.

The instant disclosure is provided to further explain in an enabling fashion the best modes of performing one or more embodiments of the present invention. The disclosure is further offered to enhance an understanding and appreciation for the inventive principles and advantages thereof, rather than to limit in any manner the invention. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, and the like, if any, are used solely to distinguish one from another entity, item, or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities, items or actions. It is noted that some embodiments may include a plurality of processes or steps, which can be performed in any order, unless expressly and necessarily limited to a particular order; i.e., processes or steps that are not so limited may be performed in any order.

Reference will now be made in detail to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary operating environment in which the system according to various embodiments can be implemented will be discussed. The environment includes a DCE 102 communicating with a first RFID chip 108 disposed in a first room 104 and a second RFID chip 110 disposed in a second room 106. Each of the RFID chips 108, 110 is associated with a medical consumable item. As discussed more fully below, the communication between the RFID chips 108, 110 and the DCE 102 is preferably wireless; however, wireline communication or a combination of wireless and wireline communication can also be used in some cases. The DCE 102, although shown here as a single entity, can include sub-portions in each of the rooms 104, 106. The DCE 102 communicates with one or more server devices represented generally by server 114 via a connection to a network 112 such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), the Internet, etc. The first and second rooms 104, 106 can be, for example, separate rooms of a hospital facility. The communication between the DCE 102 and the RFID chips 108, 110 and/or between the DCE 102 and the server 114 can be encrypted or unencrypted. The network 112 can be, for example, a private LAN for the hospital facility. The server 114 can be a computing device local to the hospital facility. On the other hand, the network 112 can be the Internet, the DCE 102 can be local to the hospital facility and the server 114 can be one or more remote computing devices. One of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that the server 114 can represent entities necessary for providing cloud computing such as infrastructure and service providers.

Referring to the block diagram of FIG. 2, portions of an exemplary DCE 200 will be discussed. The DCE 200 includes a transceiver 202, a power source 203, an interface 206, a controller 208 and one or more memory portions depicted by memory 210.

Referencing the Open Systems Interconnection reference model (OSI model), the transceiver 202 can provide the physical layer functions such as modulating packet bits into electromagnetic waves to be transmitted and demodulating received waves into packet bits to be processed by higher layers (at interface 206). The transceiver 202 can include an antenna portion 205, and radio technology circuitry such as, for example, ZigBee, Bluetooth and WiFi, as well as an Ethernet and a USB connection. The transceiver 202 also includes a wireless power transmitter 204 for generating a magnetic field or non-radiative field for providing energy transfer from the power source 203 and transmitting the energy to, for example, an RFID chip by antenna portion 205. The power transmitter 202 can include, for example, a power transmission coil. The antenna portion 205 can be, for example, a loop antenna which includes a ferrite core, capacitively loaded wire loops, multi-turn coils, etc. In addition to energy transfer, the transceiver portion 202 can also exchange data with the RFID chip. Data transmission can be done at, for example, 1.56 MHz. The data can be encoded according to, for example, Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK). The transceiver 202 includes a power transmission system composed of the antenna 205 and the power transmitter 204.

The interface 206 can provide the data link layer and network layer functions such as formatting packet bits to an appropriate format for transmission or received packet bits into an appropriate format for processing by the controller 208. For example, the interface 206 can be configured to encode or decode according to ASK. Further, the interface 206 can be configured in accordance with the 802.11 media access control (MAC) protocol and the TCP/IP protocol for data exchange with the server via a connection to the network. According to the MAC protocol, packet bits are encapsulated into frames for transmission and the encapsulation is removed from received frames. According to the TCP/IP protocol, error control is introduced and addressing is employed to ensure end-to-end delivery. Although shown separately here for simplicity, it should be noted that the interface 206 and the transceiver 202 may be implemented by a network interface consisting of a few integrated circuits.

The memory 210 can be a combination of a variety of types of memory such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, dynamic RAM (DRAM) or the like. The memory 210 includes instructions for configuring the controller 208 to execute processes such as generating messages representative and indicative of medical data and events received from RFID chips and/or determining the occurrence of one or more events as discussed more fully below.

The controller 208 can be a general purpose central processing unit (CPU) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). For example, the controller 208 can be implemented by a 32 bit microcontroller. The controller 208 and the memory 210 can be part of a core (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 3A, portions of an exemplary passive-type RFID chip 304 will be discussed. The RFID chip 304 can include an antenna portion 306, a power receiver 308, an interface 310 and a logic circuit 312. The antenna portion 306 can be a loop antenna which includes a ferrite core, capacitively loaded wire loops, multi-turn coils, etc., similar to the antenna portion 205 of the DCE. The power receiver 308 can include a power receiving coil for receiving power from the power transmission coil of the power transmitter 202 by electromagnetic coupling. The power receiver 308 can provide power to the chip 304 and/or charge a power source (not shown) such as a battery.

Generally, the logic circuit 312 generates medical data such as an identification of the RFID chip 304 and/or the medical item to which the chip is affixed, state, location, and changes in any data or properties thereof over time, all of which will be referred to as medical data. It should be noted that the medical data includes situational data which refers to a) the identity of the RFID chip, the identity reference for an individual, facility plant, property, equipment to which the RFID chip is affixed, and b) the distance between an RFID chip and other RFID chips, the distance between the RFID chip and the DCE, the distance between the RFID and client device such as smartphone, the identity and any identity references of the other RFID chips, DCEs and mobile client devices (i.e. smartphones) with which the RFID communicates, and any obtained from a sensor associated with i) the RFID chip or ii) another RFID chip, or client device (i.e. smartphone) with which the RFID communicates. Examples of the sensor data might be location in three dimensions, acceleration or velocity, displacement relative to some reference, temperature, pressure, to name a few.

The medical data can also include data indicative of an event such as, for example, near field communication (NFC) established with the DCE or another RFID chip, a time duration for which the RFID chip 304 has been within a certain location, historical data, etc. Although not shown, the logic circuit 312 can include or be coupled to a non-volatile memory or other memory source.

The interface 310 can format a received signal into an appropriate format for processing by the logic circuit 312 or can format the medical data received from the logic circuit 312 into an appropriate format for transmission. For example, the interface 310 can demodulate ASK signals or modulate data from the logic circuit 310 into ASK signals.

Referring to FIG. 3B, circuit-level portions of the active-type RFID chip 322 on a medical consumable item 320 will be discussed. The RFID chip 322 can include a power source 323, an antenna portion 324, an interface 326, a bus 328, a controller 330, a memory portion 332 and a sensing group 334. The power source 323 can be, for example, a battery. Although not shown, the chip 322 can also include a power management portion coupled to the power source 323.

The antenna portion 324 and interface 326 can be similar to those of the passive-type RFID chip 304. However, it should be noted that the antenna portion 324 can receive data from other passive-type and active-type RFID chips as well as the DCE and can send this and other data to the DCE, or other RFID chips.

The sensing group 334 includes sensing portions for sensing contact, motion characteristics such as an acceleration value, whether the chip is within a predetermined distance from another RFID chip, etc, a distance from one or more other RFID chips and/or the DCE, and/or distance and angle from a base orientation. The sensing group 334 can include a set of accelerometers for determining the acceleration value of the item 320, a digital compass that collects orientation information about the item 322, a gyroscope for measuring angular rotation associated with the apparatus to provide an orientation value, a proximity sensor for detecting if the chip 322 is within a predetermined distance of another chip 322, a touch sensor layer and/or pressure sensor for sensing contact and magnitude of the pressure, and a geomagnetic sensor for sensing geomagnetic field strength. Preferably, the sensed motion characteristics include data represented in the time domain. The accelerometers can detect subtle movements along the three axial directions. The accelerometer reading, when combined with the data from the digital compass and/or the gyroscope, can facilitate motion detection. The sensing group 334 can include a separate OpenBeacon active tag or a Sense-a-Tag as described in “Proximity Detection with RFID: A Step Toward the Internet of Things” by Bolić et al., Pervasive Computing, IEEE, (Volume 14, Issue 2), published on April-June 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Further, in conjunction with or separately from the proximity sensor, the sensing group can include a distance sensor for measuring a distance to a target node such as another RFID chip. The distance sensor may be a received signal strength (RSS) indicator type sensor for measuring the RSS of a signal received from a target node such as the DCE or another RFID chip. The distance from the target node can be obtained by a plurality of RSS measurements.

The controller 330 is configured according to instructions in the memory 332 to generate messages to be sent to the DCE or another chip. Particularly, the controller 330 can be configured to send a registration message which includes identification data associated with the RFID chip 322 and thus the medical consumable item 320. Further, in a case in which the RFID chip 322 wirelessly provides power to another passive-type RFID chip, the controller 330 can be configured to generate a message including identification data associated with the passive-type RFID chip, in combination with, or separately from its own identification data to the DCE.

The controller 330 can be configured to generate messages including medical data indicative of an event. These types of messages can be sent upon receiving a request from the DCE or another entity, upon occurrence of the event, or at regular intervals. Example events include near field communication established with another RFID chip, contact detected by the sensing group 334, positional information, a time duration of such contact and position, etc. Specific examples of events will be discussed later.

It should be noted that the passive-type RFID chip can also include a sensing group or be coupled to the sensing group. For example, the RFID chip 304 can be a Vortex passive RFID sensor tag which includes a LPS331AP pressure sensor. Both active and passive types of sensors can include RSS measurement indicators. The controller or control logic can determine the distance from the RSS measurements based upon localization algorithms such as, for example, Centroid Location (CL), Weighted CL, or the Relative Span Exponentially Weighted Localization (REWL) algorithm as discussed in “Experimental Assessment of a RSS-based Localization Algorithm in Indoor Environment” by Pivato et al., IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, published on May 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Referring to FIG. 11, the server device 1110 includes a transceiver 1102, a controller 1104, a first memory portion 1106, and one or more databases depicted generally by 1108. The databases 1108 can include a medical item database, a patient database, and a medical professional database. That database can be, for example, an atomic data store. The transceiver 1102 receives medical data via the network from the DCE and resource requests such as, for example, http requests, via the network, from a client device. The resource request can include verification credentials such as a token issued from a certification authority and a user name and an information request for an information reply including usage parameters associated with one or more RFID chips. The transceiver 1102 sends the information reply including the usage parameters associated with the one or more RFID chips to the client device. The transceiver 1102 can be similar to the transceiver of the DCE.

The memory 1106 can be one or a combination of a variety of types of memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, DRAM or the like. Alternatively, the database 1108 can be included in the memory 1106. The memory 1106 includes instructions for configuring the controller 1104.

Among the databases 1108, the medical item database stores a plurality of medical item identifications and usage attributes associated with each of the item identifications. The usage attributes can include an identification of a medical professional that used the medical item, an identification of a patient for whom the medical consumable item was used, a time duration for which the medical item was in a certain location, etc. The patient database can store patient identifications, attributes associated with each patient identification such as dispositions, scheduled surgeries, location history, consumed medical items, etc. The medical professional database can store medical professional identifications, attributes associated with each medical professional such as scheduled surgeries, location history, consumed medical items, etc.

The controller 1104 is configured according to the instructions in the memory 1106 to determine data in the database 1108 that is associated with the identification for each of the one or more RFID chips in the information request; generate the information reply including the usage parameters associated with the one or more RFID chips based upon the determined data; and store data in the message from the DCE in the medical item database to be associated with the identification of the first RFID chip.

The controller 1104 is further configured to determine based upon medical data and events included in messages received from the DCE, whether particular events of interest are likely to have occurred such as, whether a medical consumable item has been consumed or not, and store data related to the consumption of the medical consumable item in the database 1108. The controller 1104 is further configured to determine based upon the medical data and events, and attributes in the database 1108, whether a never event has or is about to occur, and generate a message to be sent in accordance with such determination.

The controller 1104 and database 1108 can be configured to perform command query responsibility segregation in which commands are separated from queries to allow scaling of servers that respond to queries separately from servers delegated to responding to messages. The controller 1104 and database 1108 can further be configured to use event sourcing and/or event streaming to ensure all changes to an application state get stored as a series of events which can be not only queried but reconstructed.

First Embodiment

Referring to FIGS. 4A-4B, a first embodiment will be discussed by exemplary cases in which the DCE 102 receives medical data from one or more RFID chips. In the case shown in FIG. 4A, the DCE 102 is disposed on a trash receptacle 402. A medical consumable item 404 including a first RFID chip 406 (passive or active) is placed in the trash receptacle 402. The DCE 102 establishes communication with the RFID chip 406. Particularly, the DCE 102 can periodically generate a broadcast message, and receive a registration message and medical data from the RFID chip 406 indicative of a medical event in reply to the broadcast message. Alternatively, the RFID chips can self-initiate sending of the registration message periodically or in response to another external trigger

If the RFID chip 406 is passive type, it can send the medical data while receiving power from the DCE 102. The registration message can include identification information associated with the RFID chip 406. In this case, the medical event would be use of the medical consumable item 404 (indicated by being in the trash receptacle 402). The DCE 102 can send a message indicative of the first medical event to be sent by the transceiver to the server device 114 via a connection to the network 112.

In the case shown in FIG. 4B, the DCE 102 is disposed not in the trash receptacle 402, but in a position such as the ceiling beneficial for establishing wireless communication coverage for a room. The DCE 102 receives medical data from the first RFID chip 406 affixed to the medical consumable item 404, a second RFID chip 408 (passive or active-type) affixed to the trash receptacle 402, and a third RFID chip 412 (passive or active-type) affixed to a patient identification 410 such as a wristband. The DCE 102 establishes communication with each of the RFID chips 406, 408, 412 by, for example, generating a general broadcast message, and receiving registration messages in reply to the broadcast message, and medical data from the RFID chips indicative of medical events. Particularly, the RFID chip 412 sends a message including medical data indicative of a first medical event, which would be the RFID chip 406 of the medical consumable item 404 being within predetermined distance from the RFID chip 412 associated with the patient identification 410. As noted above, the RFID chip (active-type or passive-type) can include a sensor for detecting near presence of another RFID chip. The RFID chip 408 sends a message including medical data indicative of a second medical event, which would be the medical consumable item 404 being within predetermined distance from the RFID chip 408 associated with the trash receptacle 402 for more than a predetermined time duration. The RFID chip 406 sends a message including medical data indicative of the chip identification. The DCE 102 can send one or more messages indicative of the medical events to be sent to the server device 114 via the network connection.

Referring to FIG. 5, exemplary modification to the first embodiment will be discussed by an exemplary operating environment in which a smartphone 502 communicates with the RFID chips. The smartphone 502 generates a broadcast message, and receives messages indicative of medical events from the RFID chips 514, 516, 518 associated with medical items 506, 504, 508. The messages include registrations messages and medical data indicative of a first, second and third medical events in reply to the broadcast message. The smartphone 502 can then send this data to the DCE 102 directly or via the network 112 or even directly to the server 114. For example, in a large facility such as a hospital, there may be areas in which there is no or very poor wireless coverage from the DCE 102. In these cases, a mobile device such as the smartphone 502 can be used to obtain medical data from chips in such areas and transmit the medical data to the DCE 102. Similar to the discussion of FIGS. 4A-4B, the events can be the RFID chips being within a predetermined distance of each other.

The smartphone 502 and/or the DCE 102 can be configured to locally persist and send the medical data to the server 114 either immediately upon collecting data or at a subsequent time after a batch of one or more pieces of data has been collected. The smartphone 502 and/or DCE 102 can purge the data sent from volatile or persistent memory immediately after successfully sending it or at a later time, either automatically or when prompted.

FIGS. 6-8 are flow diagrams illustrating exemplary operations of the DCE and RFID chips associated with medical items, medical professionals and a patient according to the first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the operations of the RFID chip and the DCE in a simple scenario will be discussed. At 602 a passive-type RFID chip receives electrical power wirelessly from the DCE. The wireless power can be sent along with a regular general broadcast message from the DCE or an interrogation request. Of course if the RFID chip is active-type, this step can be omitted. At 604, the RFID chip sends registration information to the DCE, which records it in its memory. Particularly, the registration information can include the identification of the RFID chip. At 606, if the RFID chip and/or the DCE determines that an event has occurred, at 608 the RFID chip sends use parameters associated with the event to the DCE. The DCE records the usage parameters in its own memory or immediately transmits the information to the server to be stored in the medical item database. The event can be, for example, detecting that the RFID chip is within predetermined distance from another RFID chip associated with, for example, the trash receptacle for more than a predetermined time duration as discussed in FIGS. 4A-4B.

Referring to FIG. 7, the operations of the RFID chip and the DCE in a more complex scenario in which a medical professional such as a doctor meets with a patient will be discussed. At 702, the doctor wearing an identification such as a badge including an RFID chip (active or passive-type) enters a room within the communication area of the DCE and the RFID chip registers with the DCE. A patient with a patient identification including another RFID chip which has already registered with the DCE is already in the room. At 704, the DCE records a first medical event indicative of the patient and the doctor being in the same room and the start time. At 706, the DCE generates a message representative of this first medical event to be transmitted to the server. At 708, the doctor wearing the identification including the RFID chip leaves the room, and disconnects from the DCE. At 710, the DCE records the time the RFID chips disconnects as the end time of the first medical event, and generates a message representative of the end time of the first medical event to be transmitted to the server.

Referring to FIG. 8, the operations of the RFID chip and the DCE in the scenario shown in FIG. 4A will be discussed. At 802, the RFID chip associated with the medical consumable item connects with the DCE in the trash receptacle. At 804, the DCE records a medical event indicative of the medical consumable item being in the trash receptacle. At 806, the DCE generates a message representative of this medical event to be transmitted to the server.

Referring to the flow diagram of FIG. 10 and the diagrams of FIGS. 9A-9G, operation of the DCE 102 and the server according to the first embodiment will be discussed. In FIG. 9A, the DCE 102 establishes a wireless communication coverage area depicted generally by room 900. A package 10 including a medical consumable item 20 is in the room 900. A first RFID chip 902 is disposed on the package 10 and a second RFID chip 904 is disposed on the medical consumable item 20 in the package.

At 1002, the medical consumable item 20 is removed from the package 10 as shown in FIG. 9B. At 1004, one or both of the RFID chips 902, 904 detects the separation and sends a message to the DCE 102 including a medical event indicative of the separation of the item 20 from the package 10.

At 1006, the packaging 10 is placed in a trash receptacle 30 including a third RFID chip 906 as shown in FIG. 9C. At 1008, the third RFID chip 906 detects that the packaging 10 is in the receptacle 30 and sends a message to the DCE 102 including a medical event indicative of the packaging 10 being in the receptacle 30.

At 1010, a doctor 40 or other medical professional wearing a doctor identification or badge including a fourth RFID chip 908 has entered the room 900 as shown in FIG. 9D. The DCE 102 receives a registration message from the fourth RFID chip 908 when it enters the room. The doctor 40 holds the medical consumable item 20. At 1012, one or both of the RFID chips 904, 908 detects that the item 20 is less than a predetermined distance from the identification card 50, and sends a message to the DCE 102 including a medical event indicative of the item 20 being used by the doctor 50.

At 1014, a patient 60 wearing a patient identification or badge 70 including a fifth RFID chip 910 is in the room 900 as shown in FIG. 9E. The DCE 102 can receive a registration message from the fifth RFID chip 910 when it enters the room 900. The doctor, for example, holds the medical consumable item 20 near the patient 60. At 1016, one or both of the RFID chips 904, 910 detects that the item 20 is less than a predetermined distance from the patient identification card 70, and sends a message to the DCE 102 including a medical event indicative of the item 20 being used for the patient 60.

At 1018, when the medical professional 40 is more than a predetermined distance from the item 20 (or not within a periphery of near field detection), at 1020 one or both of the RFID chips 904, 908 detects that the item 20 is less than a predetermined distance from the medical professional identification card 50, and sends a message to the DCE 102 including a medical event indicative of the item 20 no longer being used by the medical professional 40 and the time duration for which the item was used.

At 1022, when the patient 60 is more than a predetermined distance from the item 20 (or not within a periphery of near field detection), at 1024 one or both of the RFID chips 904, 910 detects that the item 20 is less than a predetermined distance from the patient identification card 70, and sends a message to the DCE 102 including a medical event indicative of the item 20 no longer being used for the patient 60 and the time duration for which the item was used for the patient.

At 1026, the medical consumable item 20 is placed in a trash receptacle 30 including the third RFID chip 906 as shown in FIG. 9F. At this time, one or both of the RFID chips 904, 906 detects that the item 20 is in the receptacle 30 and sends a message to the DCE 102 including a medical event indicative of the item 20 being in the receptacle 30.

Referring to FIG. 9G, an exemplary conceptual message 920 generated by the DCE 120 (shown in human readable format) to be sent to the server is shown. The message 920 includes the series of events related to the medical consumable items discussed above. The time data can be determined by when the message from the RFID chip was received by the DCE or when it was sent to the server, or may be included in the message from the RFID chip. The location data can be generally the location of the DCE 120 and/or the RFID chip. The server device 1110 can store the data included in the message 920 in the database 1108 in the format depicted by 940. Particularly, information parameters can be stored according to an identification reference mapped to a given medical consumable item identity and/or any other entity identity referenced in a given message containing medical and/or situational data. Examples of such entity identity references include the actual product type or unique product identity associated with a given RFID chip identity, any medical professional (RFID chip identity associated with a medical professional) that may have been registered in proximity to an RFID chip with an identity that references a given item, any patient (RFID chip identity associated with a patient) that may have been registered in proximity to an RFID chip with an identity that references a given item, a room or trash receptacle referenced by a given DCE identity or RFID chip identity, etc.

The RFID chips can detect separation from another RFID chip or being within a predetermined distance from another RFID chip by the sensor group. Alternatively, the detection can be performed by ambient radio frequency communication techniques which can detect proximity up to, for example, 70 cm by backscattering. Further, the detection can be performed at the DCE end by, for example, measuring the RSS of the RF signal received from the chips.

The server device 1110 can determine what is represented by collective transactions based upon the medical data received from the DCE as well as previously stored medical data in the database 1108. For example, in a case the server device 1110 can determine that a series of events represent the following:

“Nurse Martin opened external ventricular drain sku #34567 on 05/06/2015 at 14:05 and the external ventricular drain packaging was placed in trash receptacle #56789 on 05/06/2015 at 14:05 in operating room number 1 at general hospital in Seattle, Wash.”

“Nurse Martin gave external ventricular drain sku #34567 to Dr. Jones at 05/06/2015 at 14:06 in operating room number 1 at general hospital in Seattle, Wash.”

“Dr. Jones inserted external ventricular drain into patient Ernie Smith on May 6, 2015 at 14:09 in operating room number 1 at general hospital in Seattle, Wash.”

“Patient Ernie Smith left operating room number 1 at general hospital in Seattle, Wash. on 05/06/2015 at 14:52 and entered the post anesthesia care unit at general hospital in Seattle, Wash. on 05/06/2015 at 14:59 with external ventricular drain sku #34567”

“Patient Ernie Smith left the post anesthesia care unit at general hospital in Seattle, Wash. with external ventricular drain sku #34567 on 05/06/2015 at 15:23”

“Patient Ernie Smith arrived in the neurosurgical icu on ward 4G and was put in room 412 at general hospital in Seattle, Wash. on 05/06/2015 at 15:34 with external ventricular drain sku #34567 accompanied by nurse Washington.”

“External ventricular drain sku #34567 was removed from patient Ernie Smith by Dr. Jones and placed in the trash receptacle in the neurosurgical icu on 4G at general hospital in Seattle, Wash. by nurse Williams on May 9, 2015 at 09:52.”

The server device 1110 may publish (encrypted or unencrypted) messages, for example to a message queue or bus in response to certain events. External client devices or servers (subscribers) can register or subscribe to listen to particular messages or queues. When particular messages representing events of interest are received, the subscribing devices or servers, for example a particular hospital information system, can subsequently carry out downstream activities in response. For the sake of brevity the process of receiving a message from the message queue or bus is called herein notification. For example, an inventory system may be notified that an external ventricular drain was consumed, the electronic medical records system may be notified each day that the presence of an external ventricular drain with patient Ernie Smith is detected, the medical billing or hospital billing system may be notified that a consumable was used and that it should be charged to patient Ernie Smith, the providers billing system may be notified that Dr. Jones inserted an external ventricular drain catheter #34567 into patient Ernie Smith on May 6, 2015 and that he removed the catheter on 05/09/2015 in order to bill out these services, etc.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the system will be discussed by exemplary cases in which parameters such as a position signature of one or more medical items is determined based upon medical data from the RFID chips.

Referring to FIGS. 12A-12B, the medical item is a patient operating table 1200 and one or more of the RFID chips discussed above with respect to FIGS. 3A-3B are affixed to the table 1200. The operating table 1200 includes a foot cushion portion 1204 disposed on a foot portion frame 1201, a center cushion portion 1202 disposed on a center portion frame 1203, and a head cushion portion 1206 disposed on a head portion frame 1205. The foot cushion portion 1204 includes RFID chip 1208. The center cushion portion 1202 includes RFID chips 1209, 1210. The head cushion portion 1206 includes RFID chip 1211. The center portion frame 1203 includes RFID chips 1212, 1214. Preferably, at least one of the RFID chips 1209 and 1212 and the RFID chip 1210 and 1214 near edge of the center portion frame 1203 and cushion portion 1204 is an active-type RFID chip which includes or is electrically coupled to one or more or a network of pressure sensors.

Near field communication (NFC) between, for example, RFID chips 1209 and 1208, and between, for example, RFID chips 1210 and 1211 can be used to ascertain situational knowledge about the operating table configuration. Namely, whether the head of bed is connected (for example, whether the respective RFID chips are within a predetermined range of distance) to the center portion of the bed or not. Similarly, the presence or absence of the foot portion of the operating table can be determined from chips 1209 and 1208, for example. Information regarding the relative positon and inter-chip distance between chips 1209 and 1212 and 1210 and 1214, for example, can be used to determine whether the cushion for the center portion of the operating table is in present and in place. Particularly, one or both of RFID chips 1209 and 1208 send registration data including the chip identification to the DCE, and sends a message including medical data indicating that it has established NFC with the other chip and the identification of the other chip. Similarly, one or both of RFID chips 1210 and 1211 send registration data including the chip identification to the DCE, and sends a message including medical data indicating that it has established NFC with the other chip and the identification of the other chip. The DCE sends messages including this medical data to the server device. The server device can determine whether the foot and head of bed sections are attached to the center portion of the operating table and from the identity of the chips and each chip's known reference to specific portions of the operating table, and which end is the foot of the bed based upon the medical data. Particularly, when both of RFID chips 1209 and 1208 have established NFC with each other, and both of RFID chips 1210 and 1211 have established NFC with each other, the location and relative positions of the head foot and center portions of the patient operating table 1200 can be determined.

Referring to FIGS. 13A-13B, a donut-type headrest 1301 (referred to here as donut) can be used on the patient operating table for patient head positioning. First and second RFID chips 1302 and 1304 affixed to the donut 1301 include pressure sensors and/or communicate with pressure sensors in the donut 1301. For example, imbedded just beneath the surface of the donut are a plurality of pressure sensors situated in a known configuration, at a known distance apart and in relation to each other to permit the measurement of the pressure, pressure gradient, and pressure distribution along the surface of the donut. A patient's head may be oriented in a large variety of ways on the donut 1301. Any particular position will result in a specific pressure distribution, herein called a position signature which can be detected by the RFID chips 1302 and 1304, and transmitted to the DCE along with a date and time stamp and other data collection related metadata. For example, as shown in FIG. 13B, the RFID chips 1302 and 1304 can detect the pressure distribution resulting from the weight of the patients head and neck as transmitted to the donut at points of contact with the patient's neck, chin, ears, and any portion of the patients face and scalp that come into contact with the donut. This data can be transmitted from the RFID chips 1302 and 1304 to the DCE along with a date and time and other data collection related metadata. The DCE or server device can determine the patient's head position based upon this data utilizing algorithms developed from machine learning techniques including neural networks, support vector machines, genetic programming/genetic algorithms, Bayesian statistics, decision trees, case based reasoning, information fuzzy networks, particle swarm optimization, simulated annealing, among others, that allow for complex pattern recognition, in some cases, leveraging pre-existing or previously collected “training” data, in addition to the newly acquired RFID chip data to predict an outcome, namely, in this example, the state or position of the patient's head.

Referring to FIG. 13C, the donut 1301 can be used together with the operating table 1306. The operating table 1306 includes first and second RFID chips 1308, 1310 on the cushion portion and RFID chips 1312, 1314 on the frame portion. When the donut 1301 is initially placed on the operating table, it is not known whether the donut 1301 is on the foot of the table or the head of the table. In the present embodiment, inter-RFID chip distances d1, d2, d3, d4, d5, d6, d7 and d8 are determined. For example, chips 1310, 1314 measure the distances d1, d2 to the chip 1302 on the donut 1301. RFID chips 1308, 1312 measure the distances d3, d4 to the chip 1302 on the donut 1301. Further, chip 1308 measures the distance d6 to tag 1304. Chip 1308 (or DCE) previously stores distances d5, d7. Further, chips 1302, 1304 can measure the distance d8 or the distance d8 can be previously stored. The distances can be measured by, for example, measuring an RSS of signals returned from other tags. Alternatively, one or more Sense-a-Tags (STs) can be included in the RFID tags or deployed separately. The inter-RFID distances are included in medical data sent from the RFID tags to the DCE, and are used to determine the relative positions of the donut 1301 and the table 1306, and thus where on the table 1306 the donut 1301 is located.

Referring to FIG. 14A-14B, the data obtained from RFID chips on the operating table 1402 and the donut 1301 can be used to determine the position of the patient on the operating table 1402. FIG. 14B shows the data obtained from the RFID chips 1410, 1414 on the operating table 1402 (the patient's position signature) when the patient is positioned on the table as shown in FIG. 14A. The distance d1 between RFID chip 1410 and RFID chip 1302 (or RFID chip 1304) is shorter than the distance d2 between RFID chip 1414 and RFID chip 1302 (or RFID chip 1302). Thus, this data can be used to determine that the patient head location relative to the operating table. For example if RFID chip 1410 is affixed to the frame or cushion of the head of the bed portion of the operating table, the information can be used to infer the patient's head is resting on the head portion of the operating table. However, if RFID chip 1410 is affixed to the frame or cushion of the foot portion of the operating table, the information can be used to infer that the patient's head is resting on the foot portion of the operating table, in a reverse orientation (relative to the names of the operating table foot and head portions). Further, RFID chips 1410, 1414 can detect pressure distribution of the patient's weight on the surface of the operating table and communicate this data or position signature along with a date and time stamp, and other data collection related metadata to the DCE. The pressure data can be used to determine, in this case, that the patient is on her left side. This pressure distribution data or position signature is obtained from pressure sensors within the operating table cushions or within a pad, for example a gel mat, placed on top of the operating table across one or more segments of the table. This network of a plurality of pressure sensors are situated in a known configuration at a known distance apart and in relation to one another and are employed to collect pressure distribution data which is then communicated to an imbedded or non-imbedded RFID chip either via wired connection or near field communication. The RFID chip(s) can be interrogated or can self-initiate communication with the DCE and communicate the RFID chip and pressure sensor pad identity along with the pressure data, location, and time of pressure data collection in addition to other data collection related meta data. Data can be collected at a variety of time intervals and be used to determine the change in the patient's position over time. For example, through the various phases of an operation, from the time the patient is first transferred to the operating, intubated, positioned for the procedure, extubated and transferred off of the operating table. The timestamps and position signatures obtained at different intervals can be used to determine, independently or in combination with other data, such as the type of case scheduled to be taking place in a particular location at a particular time to give one example, the phase of the operation that the patient is in at any given time and to predict the probability that the operation is or is not proceeding as intended, among other things. For example, if the patient's position at a particular phase of the operation is not as expected, such as the patient being positioned prone instead of supine as scheduled or on the left side instead of the right side as scheduled, etc. These predictions are made by the DCE or server utilizing algorithms derived from machine learning techniques mentioned above.

Referring to FIGS. 15A-15B, a skull clamp-type headrest 1500 can be used to position the patient's head in lieu of the donut discussed above. The head rest 1500 can be, for example, a Mayfield headrest, and includes a clamping portion 1501 which includes RFID chip 1504 near the two pin side and RFID chip 1502 near the one pin side of the clamp, an RFID tag 1506 near the base adjustment portion, and an RFID tag 1508 in a corner portion. As shown in FIG. 15A, a swivel portion is joined to the clamping portion 1501. The swivel portion may be similar to the swivel adaptor and base unit described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2006/0190010 to Easton published on Aug. 24, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. A plurality of RFID chips 1510, 1512, 1514, 1516, 1518, 1520, 1522, 1524 can be disposed on the pivot/swivel joints of the swivel portion of the head rest 1500.

The respective orientations of the RFID chips in the headrest 1500 can be used to determine the exact spatial orientation of the support arm and clamping portion. For example, the RFID chip 1506 near the adjustment portion can measure a vector including an orientation angle and displacement of the chips 1502, 1504, 1506, 1508 from a base line orientation. The vector can be represented as [θ, d1, d2, d3], wherein θ represents the angle from the baseline orientation, d1 represents the distance between chips 1506 and 1504, d2 represents a distance between chips 1506 and 1508, and d3 represents a distance between chips 1506 and 1502. The RFID chip 1504 can measure a distance d4 from chip 1502 (or vice versa). The RFID chip 1506 can send a message to the DCE including the vector and the distance d4 (received from one of chips 1502, 1504), the various RFID chip identities, date and time stamp of the data collection, and other data collection related metadata. The DCE can send this message to the server device. The server device can utilize machine learning techniques as previously described herein to predict or determine the position of the headrest and thus the position of the patient's head based upon the vector and d4.

Referring to FIGS. 15C-15F, exemplary operations of the headrest 1500, the DCE and the server will be discussed during two exemplary patient positions. In these examples, a baseline orientation is determined to be as shown in FIG. 15B. That is, the angle θ of the baseline orientation is 0 degrees. The RFID chip 1506 is an active-type RFID tag, and RFID chips 1504, 1506 and 1508 are passive-type chips.

In FIG. 15C, a patient's head is shown positioned within the clamp 1501 while the patient is in the supine position. Prior to, or at this time, the RFID chip 1506 sends a registration message to the DCE including its identification information, data collection date and time stamp information, and other data collection related metadata. Further, passive-type RFID chips 1504, 1506 and 1508 receive power wirelessly from either the DCE or the RFID chip 1506, and send registration messages to the DCE including their identification information, registration date and time stamp information, and other related data collection metadata.

As shown in FIG. 15D, the RFID chip 1506 detects its displacement angle θ from the baseline orientation. For example, the sensor group of the RFID chip 1506 may include an accelerometer or orientation sensor for measuring the displacement angle. The RFID chip 1506 also measures the distances d1, d2, d3 to each of the RFID chips 1504, 1506 and 1508. The distance can be obtaining by measuring the RSS of a received signal from the chips or by NFC. Further, the RFID chip 1506 receives from one or both of RFID tags 1502, 1506 the distance d4 between RFID chips 1502 and 1504. The RFID chip 1506 send another message including the position vector [8, d1, d2, d3] and also the distance value d4 to the DCE. The value of 8 is greater than 0 and may be, for example, 30 degrees. The values d2, d3, d4 are greater than their baseline values. The value d1 will generally be fixed and can be used for error correction.

In FIG. 15E, a patient's head is shown positioned within the clamp 1501 while the patient is in the lateral oblique position. If not registered, the RFID chip 1506 sends a registration message to the DCE including its identification information. Then, the RFID chip 1506 obtains the position vector [θ, d1, d2, d3] and also the distance value d4 and transmits this data in a message to the DCE as discussed above. The value of 8 may be, for example, 45 degrees. The values d2, d3, d4 are greater than their baseline values, but less than the values of the case shown in FIG. 15C. The relative distance between the RFID chips on the head clamp 1501, the support arm as shown in 1500, and the RFID chips affixed to the various portions of the operating table as in the exemplary FIGS. 12C and 13C will also be transmitted to allow the determination of the location of the head clamp to the operating table (for example, is it affixed to the head or the foot of the operating table, etc.).

As discussed in embodiment 1, the patient can have a patient identification such as a wristband which includes an RFID chip that stores the patient identification. This information will also be transmitted to the DCE as discussed in embodiment 1. Similarly, the identification of the medical professional will also be transmitted to the DCE as discussed in embodiment 1. The DCE will send this information to the server device.

The server device can determine, utilizing machine learning algorithms as previously described herein, the patient position based upon the position signature received from the RFID chip 1506. For example, when the server receives the message including the position vector [θ, d1, d2, d3] and also the distance value d4 shown in FIG. 15C, it can determine that the patient's head is rotated as shown in FIG. 15C when the values of the position vector are within a first predetermined range. When the server receives the message including the position vector [θ, d1, d2, d3] and also the distance value d4 shown in FIG. 15E, it can determine that the patient's head is rotated as shown in FIG. 15D when the values of the position vector are within a second predetermined range different from the first range. Moreover, this data can be combined with the medical data received from the operating table as shown in FIG. 14B to increase the accuracy of the determination.

The server device can then compare the patient's position with patient attributes stored in the database to determine if a never event has or is about to occur. For example, if a patient attribute in the database indicates that the patient is scheduled to have a surgical procedure on a left portion of his head, yet the server determines that the head is positioned to expose the right portion as shown in FIG. 15C, the server device determines to a certain probability that a never event has or is about to occur. Similarly, the server device can compare the identification of the medical professional with the scheduled surgical procedure to confirm if a never event has or is about to occur. For example, if a medical professional is scheduled to do a surgical procedure on a patient different from the patient identification in the message received from the DCE, the server device can determine that a never event has or is about to occur. Further, if the server device determines that a medical consumable item such as a sponge with an imbedded RFID device is still in the patient as determined from the consumable's (sponge's) proximity to one or more of the RFID chips, for example, those affixed to the operating table and or the donut or head clamp at the time of completion of the surgery, the server device may determine that a never event has or is about to occur.

Referring to FIGS. 16A-16B, an endotracheal tube 1600 includes first RFID tag 1602, second RFID tag 1604, third RFID tag 1606, and fourth RFID tag 1608 on the air-filled cuff of the tube 1600. At least fourth RFID tag 1608 includes or is associated with pressure, orientation and temperature sensors. The first RFID tag 1602, second RFID tag 1604, and third RFID tag 1606 include or are associated with orientation sensors. The pressure sensors are disposed in an orientation where they can enable the detection and monitoring of the pressure of the cuff of the endotracheal tube at the interface between the cuff and the patient's airway. The temperature sensors are located along the course of the endotracheal tube and have a known position or measured distance from the end of the endotracheal tube. As shown in FIG. 16B, the first RFID tag 1602 and second RFID tag 1604 can preferably be positioned so as to be exterior and near the patient's mouth, while third RFID tag 1606 and fourth RFID tag 1608 are positioned to be in the patient. The tags can transmit data to the DCE representative of cuff inflation changes (pressure), the temperature distribution along the endotracheal tube, and the patient's core body temperature over time. The distribution of temperature along the course of the endotracheal tube at any particular moment in time used in combination with the known position of each temperature sensor within the endotracheal tube is transmitted to the DCE by the associated RFID chip. The DCE or server can then determine, using the previously described machine learning techniques, the likely position of the endotracheal tube leveraging the knowledge of the expected temperature drop off along the course of the endotracheal tube as it move from the trachea to the larynx to the pharynx to where it exits the patient at which point it then gets exposed to the ambient temperature in the operating room. In addition to using this temperature distribution to predict the position of the endotracheal tube in the patient at any given moment in time, changes in the temperature distribution along the course of the endotracheal tube over time can be used to determine whether the endotracheal tube has moved in the patient which can be useful, for example if the system predicts that the endotracheal tube is no longer in ideal position or is potentially at risk of becoming dislodged or conversely if the tube may potentially become positioned too deep in the patient's airway. The cuff pressure at any particular point in time or changes in the cuff pressure over time can also be used to predict situations that may pose danger or risk to the patient.

Referring to FIG. 17, an exemplary case is shown in which the Mayfield headrest 1500 can be used in place of the foot frame and foot cushion of the operating table (as is typical in neurosurgical procedures) 1202 and the endotracheal tube 1600 is inserted in the patient. The data from all of the RFID chips can be sent to the DCE, and used to determine the position of the patient and whether a never event has or is about to occur. Position data from the RFID chips on the endotracheal tube 1600 relative to the position data from the RFID chips on the operating table 1202 and the position data from the RFID chips on the Mayfield head clamp 1501 can be used together to improve the prediction of the patient's head orientation. For example if RFID chip 1602 is closer in proximity to RFID chip 1502 as compared to its 1602 distance from RFID chip 1504 (as would be the case in the exemplary case shown in FIG. 17), this information can be used by the system to determine or further confirm the orientation of the patient's head in the head clamp. Specifically, the combined information from RFID chips on the head rest and those imbedded in the endotracheal tube enable more specific determination of where the patient's face or the frontal bone of the skull is relative to the head clamp as opposed to the patient's occiput or the occipital bone of the skull (back of the head).

Referring to FIG. 18, an eyelid occlusive dressing 1800 includes an embedded RFID tag 1802. Eye protection is used by anesthesiologists during neurosurgical cases to prevent eye injury (i.e. corneal abrasions, chemical injury from prep solutions, exposure keratopathy/keratitis). The eyelid dressing's embedded RFID tag 1802 can transmit orientation data to the DCE that can be used together with the orientation data from the Mayfield head rest 1500 and the head clamp 1501 to determine the orientation of the patient's head by, for example, calculating the proximity of the RFID tag 1802 to those on the Mayfield head clamp 1500 and 1501.

Referring to FIG. 19, rather than the donut 1300 shown earlier in FIGS. 13A-13B, the head rest can be a horse shoe style headrest 1900 which includes RFID tags 1902, 1904 and 1906. Further, the headrest 1900 can be installed on its own swivel joint. For example, a horse shoe shaped head rest can be affixed to the Mayfield apparatus rather than the head clamp 1501.

This information along with similar information about the proximity of the endotracheal tube 1600 to the RFID chips on the Mayfield head rest 1500 enhance the ability of the server and/or DCE to definitively determine the orientation of the patient's head and to predict the side of the patients head that will be operated upon, which the system can cross reference with the booking information for the case to determine if all information is in agreement or whether there may be risk for a never event.

It should be noted that in FIG. 1, one server was shown merely for ease of illustration. However, the server 114 may be a plurality of servers and databases connected to the network 112 via a load balancer and performing X, Y and Z axis scaling of the hardware and software. Particularly, multiple virtual machine instances (VMs) can be running applications behind the load balancer on the different servers (X-axis), the servers can perform a functional decomposition to break up applications into small services (Y-axis), and each server (running the identical application) can be responsible for a subset of the data (sharing the database) broken up by something that logically makes sense for the business (i.e. patient last name, type of customer, etc.) with a component for routing (Z-axis). Further, although the database 1108 is shown as being a portion of the server 1110, it should be noted that the database 1108 can be implemented at one or more separate computing devices connected to the server 1110 via the network.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art. The following claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A server device comprising: a transceiver configured to receive one or more messages including a position signature of a plurality of first RFID chips affixed to a headrest and a patient operating table, a patient identification of a second RFID chip associated with a patient, and an identification of a third RFID chip associated with a medical consumable item, the transceiver further configured to receive an information request from a client device and to send an information reply including usage parameters associated with the third RFID chip to the client device; wherein the position signature includes an angle of displacement from a baseline orientation of a first RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, a first distance between the first RFID chip and a second RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, a second distance between the first RFID chip and a third RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, and a pressure value associated with a fourth RFID chip, wherein the first RFID chip is affixed to a base portion of the head rest, the second RFID chip is associated with a first pin portion of the headrest, the third RFID chip is associated with a second pin portion of the headrest, and the fourth RFID chip is affixed to the patient operating table; a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver; and one or more memory sources operatively coupled to the controller, the one or more memory sources storing: a patient database including a plurality of patient identifications associated with a plurality of patients, and patient attributes for each of the plurality of patient identifications; a medical item database including a plurality of identifications of medical items, and usage parameters for each of the medical items; and instructions for configuring the controller to: determine based upon the position signature, an orientation of the headrest and the operating table and a present patient orientation of the patient and to determine if the present patient orientation corresponds with one or more of the patient attributes associated with the patient in the patient database; and determine data in the medical item database that is associated with the identification for the third RFID chip in the information request; and generate the information reply including the usage parameters associated with the third RFID chip based upon the determined data, the usage parameters associated with the third RFID chip include an identification of a medical professional that used the medical consumable item, and an identification of a patient for whom the medical consumable item was used.
 2. The server device of claim 1, wherein: the one or more messages further include: a first spatial orientation of a fifth RFID chip associated with an endotracheal tube in the patient; a pressure of an air-filled cuff in the endotracheal tube; and a temperature associated with the patient, the patient attributes in the patient database include scheduled surgical procedure and a predetermined temperature and pressure range for the patient during the surgical procedure, the controller is further configured to determine if the pressure and temperature indicated in the one or more messages corresponds to the predetermined temperature and pressure range for the patient.
 3. A data collection engine (DCE) device comprising: a power transmission subsystem including a power source and an antenna arranged to wirelessly transmit power from the power source to a first radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip, wherein the first RFID chip is a passive-type RFID chip; a transceiver configured to receive first medical data from at least one of the first RFID chip and a second RFID chip while the first RFID chip is activated by the power received, the medical data indicative of a first medical event and including identification information of the first and second RFID chips; a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver; and one or more memory sources operatively coupled to the controller, the one or more memory sources including instructions for configuring the controller to generate one or more messages indicative of the first medical event and identification information to be sent by the transceiver to a server device via a network connection, wherein the first RFID chip includes an antenna for wirelessly receiving the power from the transceiver of the DCE and communicating with the second RFID chip, and control logic for generating the medical data.
 4. The DCE of claim 3, wherein: the second RFID chip is an active-type RFID chip which includes a power source and a proximity sensor; and the first medical event is that the second RFID chip detects that the first RFID chip is more than a predetermined distance from the second RFID chip.
 5. The DCE of claim 3, wherein: the second RFID chip is associated with an identification item and the first RFID chip is associated with a medical consumable item; the first medical data includes information representative of identification data for the second RFID chip, and a time duration for which the second RFID chip is less than the predetermined distance from the first RFID chip.
 6. The DCE of claim 5, wherein: the transceiver receives second medical data indicative of a second event from the first RFID chip or a third RFID chip associated with another identification item when the first RFID chip is less than a predetermined distance from the third RFID chip; the second medical data includes identification information for the second and third RFID chips and a time duration for which the second and third RFID chips are less than the predetermined distance from each other; and the controller is further configured to generate the one or more messages to be indicative of the second event.
 7. The DCE of claim 3, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive a data storage request from a client device, the data storage request including data associated with an RFID chip coupled to the client device, and the controller is further configured to generate another message including the data storage request to be sent to the server device.
 8. A system for capturing medical data and determining medical event, the system including the first and second RFID chips, the DCE and the server device of claim 3, wherein the server device comprises: a transceiver configured to receive the one or more messages from the DCE, wherein the one or more messages from the DCE includes at least an identification associated with the first RFID chip, the transceiver further configured to receive an information request from a client device and to send an information reply including usage parameters associated with the first RFID chip to the client device; a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver; and one or more memory sources operatively coupled to the controller, the one or more memory sources including a medical item database and instructions for configuring the controller, wherein the instructions configure the controller to: determine data in the medical item database that is associated with the identification for the first RFID chip in the information request; generate the information reply including the usage parameters associated with the first RFID chip based upon the determined data; and store data in the one or messages from the DCE in the medical item database to be associated with the identification of the first RFID chip.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first RFID chip is associated with a medical consumable item, and the usage parameters associated with the first RFID chip include an identification of a medical professional that used the medical consumable item, and an identification of a patient for whom the medical consumable item was used.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first RFID chip is associated with an identification of a medical professional, and the usage parameters associated with the first RFID chip include a time duration for which the medical professional was in a certain location.
 11. A server device comprising: a transceiver configured to receive the one or more messages from the DCE of claim 3, a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver; and one or more memory sources operatively coupled to the controller, the one or more memory sources including instructions for configuring the controller to determine based upon the medical event included in the one or more messages and a machine learning algorithm whether a medical consumable item associated with the first RFID chip has been consumed.
 12. A server device comprising: a transceiver configured to receive one or more messages including a position signature of a plurality of first RFID chips affixed to a medical item and a patient identification of a second RFID chip associated with a patient; a controller operatively coupled to the transceiver; and one or more memory sources operatively coupled to the controller, the one or more memory sources storing a patient database including a plurality of patient identifications associated with a plurality of patients, and patient attributes for each of the plurality of patient identifications; wherein the one or more memory sources further include instructions for configuring the controller to: determine based upon the position signature, a present patient orientation of the patient and to determine if the present patient orientation corresponds with one or more of the patient attributes associated with the patient in the patient database.
 13. The server device of claim 12, wherein the medical item is a patient operating table, wherein the position signature includes one or more pressure values associated with a portion of the patient operating table.
 14. The server device of claim 13, wherein the position signature further includes: a first distance between first and second RFID chips of the plurality of first RFID chips, the first RFID chip associated with a head portion of the patient operating table and the second RFID chip associated with a center portion of the patient operating table; and a second distance between a third RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips and the second RFID chip, the third RFID chip associated with a foot portion of the patient operating table, wherein the controller is further configured to determine components in place on the operating table and the orientation of the patient on the operating table based upon the one or more pressure values and the first and second distances.
 15. The server device of claim 12, wherein: the medical item is a patient operating table and a headrest; the position signature includes: a first distance between first and second RFID chips of the plurality of first RFID chips, the first RFID chip associated with the headrest and the second RFID chip associated with a first edge portion of the patient operating table; and a second distance between the first RFID chip and a third RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, the third RFID chip associated with a second edge portion of the patient operating table, the controller is further configured with logic derived from machine learning algorithms to determine an orientation of the headrest and the operating table based upon the first and second distances.
 16. The server device of claim 12, wherein the one or more messages further include: a first spatial orientation of a third RFID chip associated with an endotracheal tube in the patient; a pressure of an air-filled cuff in the endotracheal tube; and a plurality of temperature values associated with the endotracheal tube where positioned in a patient.
 17. The server device of claim 16, wherein: the plurality of messages further include a second spatial orientation value of a fourth RFID chip associated with an eyelid occlusive dressing; and the controller is further configured to determine the patient orientation based upon the first and second spatial orientation values.
 18. The server device of claim 12, wherein: the database further includes medical professional identifications associated with medical professionals, and attributes related to each of the medical professional identifications; the plurality of messages further include an indication that a third RFID chip associated with one of the medical professionals is less than a predetermined distance from the second RFID chip associated with the patient.
 19. The server device of claim 12, wherein: the patient attributes includes a surgical procedure scheduled for the patient; and the controller is further configured to determine if the present patient orientation of the patient corresponds with the surgical procedure scheduled.
 20. The server device of claim 12, wherein: the medical item is a headrest or a headclamp; the position signature includes: an angle of displacement from a baseline orientation of a first RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, the first RFID chip affixed to a base portion of the headrest or the headclamp; a first distance between the first RFID chip and a second RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, the second RFID chip associated with a first pin portion of the headrest or the headclamp; a second distance between the first RFID chip and a third RFID chip of the plurality of first RFID chips, the third RFID chip associated with a second pin portion of the headrest or the headclamp, the controller is further configured with logic derived from machine learning algorithms to determine an orientation of the headrest on the operating table based upon the angle of displacement and the first and second distances. 